Manufacturing message taken to Westminster

A The Manufacturing Institute product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 18, 2005

The fact that manufacturers drive 86% of UK exports is one of many reasons why manufacturing remains the bedrock of our economy.

The fact that manufacturers drive 86% of UK exports is one of many reasons why manufacturing remains the bedrock of our economy.

This message was taken to Westminster this week (14th November) when the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and The Manufacturing Institute hosted a House of Commons reception to launch a new campaign aimed at dispelling the many myths around manufacturing.

The dynamic face of modern manufacturing, which contributes 77% of UK research and development spend and employs at least 6.2 million people directly or indirectly, was presented at the event.

Manufacturing is a vital part of the Northwest economy, consisting of around 16,500 companies employing 500,000 people, and contributing GBP 19 billion to the region's GDP.

The NWDA and The Manufacturing Institute are currently working in partnership to deliver Agenda for Change, a programme to achieve major growth in the industry by 2008.

The Manufacturing Institute also delivers the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), a DTI and NWDA backed service established to provide support to regional manufacturers.

Since April 2002, the MAS productivity impact on Northwest companies now totals GBP 129.7 million.

The event highlighted some of the region's companies who have achieved major results for their competitiveness and productivity after taking advice from MAS.

The reception, was addressed by Alun Michael, Minister for Industry and the Regions.

He said: "As we are all aware negative perceptions about manufacturing can seriously damage the sector's prospects and act as a barrier to attracting new talent".

"It can hamper the recruitment of school leavers and good university graduates into the sector, and can contribute to a reluctance on the part of financial institutions and the Stock Market to invest in it".

Peter Mearns, NWDA Director of Marketing, said: "Manufacturing is critical to the growth of the regional and national economy and the agency is working hard to support the sector's development in the region".

"There are many excellent examples in the Northwest of vibrant, innovative and highly competitive manufacturing companies that are achieving significant success".

"It is vital that we showcase these achievements in order to transform existing negative perceptions of manufacturing and promote the true facts of this dynamic industry".

"The NWDA is delighted to support this important campaign, which I am confident will make a real difference in creating a positive image of manufacturing and help to ensure that the Northwest remains at the forefront".

Julie Madigan, Chief Executive of The Manufacturing Institute, commented: "Manufacturing has talked itself down for too long".

"It is time to explode some of the popular myths that have built up around the sector and to celebrate the massive contribution manufacturing continues to make to the economy".

"It is also time to salute the ingenuity and hard work of those nimble, innovative businesses which not only compete in, but often lead, the global market".

"With a belief in its own destiny, UK and Northwest manufacturing can meet the varied challenges the sector is facing head on, and play a vital part in the future prosperity of UK plc".

Peter Mearns, NWDA Director of Marketing, added: "Manufacturing is critical to the growth of the regional and national economy and the Agency is working hard to support the sector's development in the region".

"There are many excellent examples in the Northwest of vibrant, innovative and highly competitive manufacturing companies that are achieving significant success".

"It is vital that we showcase these achievements in order to transform existing negative perceptions of manufacturing and promote the true facts of this dynamic industry".